How to Make a Webcam Into an Infrared Camera

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This article describes how to modify an ordinary webcam to capture images in the near infrared wavelength. All that is needed are two very small pieces of completely black photographic negative. If you do not have any negatives, a small

piece of the inside of a floppy-disk will do as well.

Steps

1. 1
   Get a Webcam.

   
   
2. 2
   

   Open the webcam casing.
   Open the webcam casing.
3. 3
   

   Unscrew the lens assembly from the camera PCB.
   Unscrew the lens assembly from the camera PCB.
4. 4
   

   Remove the small piece of glass that appears to reflect red light, on the back of the lens.
   Remove the small piece of glass that appears to reflect red light, on the back of the lens.
5. 5
   

   Cut two pieces of black photographic negative the same size as the glass you just removed.
   Cut two pieces of black photographicnegative the same size as the glass you just removed.
6. 6
   

   Fit the negative pieces where the glass was.
   Fit the negative pieces where the glass was.
7. 7
   Re-assemble the camera. Be sure to use either daylight or incandescent lighting and the webcam will now see in infrared. If you leave the negative squares out the only color the camera will pick up is red, black, and white.

   
   

Video

Tips

• This is only 'near-infrared', meaning it isn't going to be 'night vision' as you might expect. What this allows you to do is capture pictures of things with wonky colors and maybe see some things not necessarily visible in the normal wavelengths of human vision. Bright lights will appear very red, because you've filtered out all light except for the very far red end of the spectrum. Night vision requires a sensor capable of seeing much farther into the infrared spectrum.
• To avoid having to use an incandescent light, try illuminating the subject/object with infrared LEDs. This way you could "see" in a darkened room (at some limited distance, depending on the intensity of the IR LEDs). A common household source of infrared light by LED is a TV remote control which makes a great little flash light for your camera. If this is too dark to see, try removing the black photographic negative squares.
• Use proper screw drivers to unscrew because improper handling might break the camera.
• This can also be done to digital still cameras. The resulting photos can be cleaned up on your computer using your image editing software which can yield beautiful final images. If working with a digital still camera be EXTREMELY CAREFUL not to touch the capacitors inside during disassembly & reassembly.

Warnings

• This will invalidate your camera's warranty so be sure to use a webcam you don't need.
• Never mess with electricity unless you know what you're doing.
• This may not always work.
• Make sure that this product is unplugged while doing this.

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